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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/M008320/1
Title A Framework for Designing Prognostic Systems
Status Completed
Energy Categories Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Dr V M Catterson
No email address given
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
University of Strathclyde
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 17 December 2014
End Date 08 April 2016
Duration 16 months
Total Grant Value £96,123
Industrial Sectors Energy
Region Scotland
Programme NC : Engineering
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr V M Catterson , Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde (100.000%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , National Grid plc (0.000%)
Project Contact , GSE Systems Ltd (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract Prognostics is an emerging field within equipment condition monitoring, which looks to predict the occurrence of a failure ahead of time. When a fault develops there is generally some period of time before failure, where the equipment can continue to function even although its condition is deteriorating. For many years, diagnostic systems have tried to identify the specific fault that is occurring during this period of deterioration.Prognostic systems aim to move beyond diagnosis, and predict the remaining life of the equipment. With a better understanding of the time until failure, the asset owner can schedule maintenance or replacement more effectively, to extract the full life from the equipment while reducing the chance of a failure in service. This in turn reduces costs associated with periodic maintenance and early replacement of assets.Within the power industry, the need for accurate prognostics is pressing. National Grid statistics show that the majority of power transformers were installed before 1970, and thus exceed their original design life. Continued service relies on confident predictions about future health, traditionally provided by engineering judgement. At the opposite extreme, new technologies such as HVDC and offshore wind introduce new assets and new uses of established assets, where little operational experience can provide such engineering judgement. Both situations would be enhanced by the widespread adoption of prognostic systems.Currently, there exist no standards or common approaches to developing prognostic systems. Such systems have been developed for a number of applications, but the lack of commonly-agreed terminology makes it difficult to compare approaches and methods. When faced with a new application, the designer must establish their own needs and requirements without any support or guidance. It is difficult to ensure all possible options have been adequately considered.This research aims to create a design framework for prognostic systems in the power industry. Such a framework can be used as a methodology for developing new prognostic systems, guiding the designer through different options and design decisions. The framework will also include the terminology needed to describe and compare different prognostic approaches and system components, allowing assessment of advantages and disadvantages of different choices. The existence of a design framework will make it faster and easier to build prognostic systems, leading to wider deployment of this technology, and ultimately better maintenance scheduling.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 13/03/15